How to Cook a Frozen Turkey

It happens to everyone. It's Thanksgiving morning and the turkey is still a solid block of ice. You can safely roast a turkey straight from frozen.

Yes, it's safe

According to USDA guidance, a turkey can be cooked from frozen. The only trade-off is time.

Plan for about 50% longer

A frozen turkey takes roughly 50% longer to cook than a thawed one. If a thawed 14-pound bird needs about 3½ hours, a frozen one may need over 5.

Step by step

1. Heat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Don't go hotter; the outside would burn before the inside cooks.
2. Unwrap the turkey and place it on a rack in a roasting pan.
3. Roast without seasoning at first, since rubs won't stick to ice.
4. After about 2 to 2½ hours, the giblet bag and neck will loosen. Carefully remove them with tongs.
5. Now season the bird and keep roasting.
6. Check the breast, thigh and wing with a thermometer. All must reach 165°F (74°C).

Don't stuff a frozen turkey

Cook stuffing separately in a dish. The center of a frozen bird takes too long to heat for stuffing to be safe.

Partly frozen?

If the bird is mostly thawed but still icy inside, roast it as usual and add extra time. Always go by the thermometer, not the clock.